United States intends to utilize the United Nations cybercrime treaty in its efforts against ransomware attacks
The U.N. Cybercrime Treaty, scheduled for signing in October 2025, has sparked debates among U.S. legislators and digital rights advocates, primarily due to concerns about its potential impact on human rights and the enhancement of surveillance capabilities for authoritarian regimes.
## Concerns Raised by U.S. Legislators and Digital Rights Advocates
The primary fears revolve around the treaty's potential to facilitate increased surveillance and data collection by countries with questionable human rights records, such as China, Russia, and Iran. This could potentially lead to the suppression of fundamental freedoms and civil liberties.
The treaty's provisions for mutual legal assistance and extradition also raise fears about the potential misuse of such powers for political repression. The lack of new or expanded standards specific to cybercrime in the treaty leaves the implementation of human rights safeguards to individual countries, which may not always prioritise these protections.
## Biden Administration's Plan to Address These Concerns
The Biden administration, despite voting in favour of the treaty, has emphasised the importance of international cooperation in tackling cybercrime. The administration is likely to focus on ensuring that any cooperation under the treaty respects human rights and does not compromise U.S. values.
To address these concerns, the administration may work through diplomatic channels to encourage countries to implement robust human rights safeguards when ratifying and implementing the treaty. They might also advocate for stronger international standards to prevent the misuse of surveillance powers.
The administration could also reinforce domestic policies and laws to protect U.S. citizens' rights and privacy, ensuring that any international agreements do not undermine these protections.
However, specific details on how the Biden administration plans to address these concerns directly are not widely reported in the available sources. The administration's approach is likely to involve a combination of diplomatic efforts, advocacy for stronger international standards, and reinforcing domestic protections.
The U.S. administration sees the U.N. Cybercrime Convention as an agreement that could help make progress in the global fight against ransomware and other illicit activity. The treaty allows law enforcement in one country to access electronic evidence stored in another country, which could be instrumental in combating transnational cybercrime.
The Biden administration has found widespread support from foreign governments, particularly from close allies, to back the agreement. The administration's decision to support the treaty follows extensive outreach from non-government organisations, human rights advocates, technology firms, and other stakeholders. Sen. Ron Wyden and other U.S. Senate members wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other top administration officials in late October, urging the administration not to allow the U.N. treaty to be used for domestic surveillance and censorship by Russia, China, and other authoritarian regimes.
As the October 2025 signing date approaches, the Biden administration's strategy to address the concerns surrounding the U.N. Cybercrime Treaty will be closely watched by legislators, digital rights advocates, and international partners alike.
The concerns regarding the U.N. Cybercrime Treaty, which involve potential increases in surveillance and data collection by authoritarian regimes, have led to discussions about the treaty's impact on ransomware and cybersecurity. The Biden administration, while affirming the treaty's potential benefits in combating cybercrime, is focusing on ensuring that any cooperation under the treaty adheres to human rights standards and does not compromise U.S. values.
